Australian Open players in doubt

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Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev have declined to reveal whether they are vaccinated. Credit: Getty


One week after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke indicated unvaccinated players would be banned from arriving in the country, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said exemptions for that group to enter will remain in place.

Melbourne Premier Daniel Andrews said he will not allow unvaccinated tennis players to enter the country and play in the Australian Open in January 2022. But PM Scott Morrison has now decided to grant exemptions. So who has the power, state leaders or the feds? Should be interesting.

 

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The rule is that they may enter but they must serve 14 days in quarantine if they are unvaccinated. Dan Andrews, the Victorian premier, says that rule applies to everyone, without exception. It applies to Australians returning home from overseas and it applies to elite sportspeople too.

Ashleigh Barty has missed two major tournaments just so that she can compete in the Australian Open. If others decide to skip it because of the vaccination or quarantine rule then so be it. It might give some of the younger up and coming players a chance at a major title. No-one is indispensable, not even last year's champion.